Genre Definitions Horror: Fiction and nonfiction that elicits a sense of fear, fright, or horror in the reader. Fear may stem from an unknown, unpredictable source, a seemingly uncontrollable situation, or a paranormal influence (ghosts, vampires, werewolves, etc.). Physical or psychological threats often heighten the fear factor. Paranormal fiction often includes an element of fear of the unknown, psychic abilities, and supernatural creatures or characteristics. Paranormal romance, which pairs the supernatural with "star-crossed" (species-crossed?) love is popular in current teenage fiction. Science Fiction: The science fiction genre often tells stories about the science and technology of the future. These stories are often set in space, a different world, or in a different universe. Fantasy: Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary plot element, theme, or setting. Many of these books take place in imaginary worlds where magic and magical creatures are common.
Technology Assignment
Your technology assignment is to explore different book bloggers. Reading book review blogs can be an excellent way to stay up to date on newly released books without reading everything yourself. Some bloggers concentrate on one age group or genre.
Check a few of these out and share your favorite on Goodreads in our March Technology thread. General Bloggers:
Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy
Genre DefinitionsHorror: Fiction and nonfiction that elicits a sense of fear, fright, or horror in the reader. Fear may stem from an unknown, unpredictable source, a seemingly uncontrollable situation, or a paranormal influence (ghosts, vampires, werewolves, etc.). Physical or psychological threats often heighten the fear factor. Paranormal fiction often includes an element of fear of the unknown, psychic abilities, and supernatural creatures or characteristics. Paranormal romance, which pairs the supernatural with "star-crossed" (species-crossed?) love is popular in current teenage fiction.
Science Fiction: The science fiction genre often tells stories about the science and technology of the future. These stories are often set in space, a different world, or in a different universe.
Fantasy: Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary plot element, theme, or setting. Many of these books take place in imaginary worlds where magic and magical creatures are common.
Technology Assignment
Your technology assignment is to explore different book bloggers. Reading book review blogs can be an excellent way to stay up to date on newly released books without reading everything yourself. Some bloggers concentrate on one age group or genre.Check a few of these out and share your favorite on Goodreads in our March Technology thread.
General Bloggers:
- Booklist Online Book Blog: http://blog.booklistonline.com/
- Read Roger (The Horn Book) http://www.hbook.com/category/blogs/read-roger/
- Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast: http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/
Middle School Focus:- Mrs. Yingling Reads:http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/
- Mrs. Reader Pants: http://www.readerpants.net/
- Unleashing Readers: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/
Young Adult Focus:- Y.A. Love: http://www.readerpants.net/
- Reading Rants: http://www.readingrants.org/
- Epic Reads: http://www.epicreads.com/blog/
- Heise Reads and Recommends: http://www.heisereads.com/
African American Focus:- The Brown Book Shelf: http://thebrownbookshelf.com/
Picture Book Focus:- Teach with Picture Books: http://teachwithpicturebooks.blogspot.com/
- 100 Scope Notes: http://100scopenotes.com/
Nonfiction FocusReading Assignment
Read two titles from the following lists or any other horror, science fiction, or fantasy novels recommended by your librarian.Horror
Bloody Horowitz by Anthony Horowitz
**//The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls//** by Claire Legrand
Dark Souls by Paula Morris*
**//Doll Bones//** by Holly Black
**//Every Other Day//** by Jennifer Lynn Barnes*
The Ghost Prison by Joseph Delaney
**//The Graveyard Book//** by Neil Gaiman
The Hunt for the Seventh by Christine Morton-Shaw
**//The Name of the Star//** by Maureen Johnson*
**//The Screaming Staircase//** by Jonathan Stroud
**//This Dark Endeavor//** by Kenneth Oppel*
**//Jade Green//** by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender*
The Thief of Always by Clive Barker
**//Zombie Tag//** by Hannah Moskowitz
The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Wolf Rider by Avi
*Some of these titles/series are considered YA.
Bad Girls Don’t Die by Katie Alender*
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia*
Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan
Dead is… by Marlene Perez
Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
Gilda Joyce, Psychic Investigator by Jennifer Allison
Gone Series by Michael Grant*
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Last Apprentice (Wardstone Chronicles) by Joseph Delaney*
Midnighters by Scott Westerfeld
Nightfall Series by Rick Jasper (Hi/Lo Series)
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White*
Ruined by Paula Morris*
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyers*
Vampirates by Justion Somper
Vampire Plagues by Sebastian Rook
“Weenie” books by David Lubar
Witch & Wizard by James Patterson
Horror Book Lists
Halloween Week: The Lists at The Book Smugglers Blog (10/29/2013)
Horror Books for Middle Grade Readers from Common Sense Media
Reading Wildly: Scary by Abby the Librarian (10/24/2013)
Top Ten Horror Books for Junior High Readers by Michelle Glatt, Nerdy Book Club (6/29/2013)
Women in Horror 2013: Middle Grade Horrors by Brittany Maresh (2/16/2013)
Horror Resources
Horror in YA Lit is a Staple, Not a Trend by Kelly Jensen for SLJ (9/13/2013)
The Horror! The Horror! Learning Network Lesson Plan by Amanda Christy Brown
Monster Librarian Blog
Why It’s Good to Scare Your Kids from TLC Parentables (6/3/2011)
Why Kids Like to Scare the Pants Off Themselves from TLC Parentables (8/23/2012)
Why Kids Love Scary Stories from Random House Books Austrial (10/24/2011)
Horror resources compiled by Samantha McManus. Used with permission.
Science Fiction Titles
(Linked to book trailer if available)Eye of the Storm – Kate Messner
Wake Up Missing – Kate Messner
Michael Vey – Richard Paul Evans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFz0c33VpxU
The Adoration of Jenna Fox – Mary E. Pearson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnk1zPw_PHc
Stung – Bethan Wiggins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ublGWuM38R4
The Fifth Wave – Rick Yancey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKkEAIs4pJc
Divergent – Veronica Roth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu5Erw-posg
The Ability – M. M. Vaughn
The Colossus Rises – Peter Lerangis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC5MJ30KiWo
Forgotten – Kat Patrick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFa5haRlGQ0
Pulse – Patrick Carman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlTT1997TmI
Legend – Marie Lu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6adyUHwUjw
Cinder – Marissa Meyer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXrMAFGWyuE
The Compound – S. A. Bodeen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIqfps2DgVA
I am Number Four – Pitticus Lore http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HtI9yjz9Vk
Science Fiction Resources
Golden Duck Awards: Children's Science Fiction Awards
Why Teach Science Fiction: Teach the Fantastic Blog
Biology, Ecology, and Jabberjays: Teaching Science with Science Fiction
(Linked to book trailer if available)
(First book in series is listed with a link to a book trailer if available)
Jinx – Sage Blackwood
The Real Boy – Anne Ursu
Seraphina –Rachel Hartman
Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow - Jessica Day George
Vessel - Sarah Beth Durst
- The Apothecary
The Beyonders - Brandon Mull- World without Heroes
Fablehaven - Brandon Mull- Fablehaven
Last Heroes of Olympus - Rick Riordan- Lost Hero
Mirrorworld - Cornelia Funke- Reckless
Seven Realms Series - Cinda Williams Chima- Demon King
SkinJacker Trilogy - Neal Shusterman- Everlost
Sweet Venom Trilogy - Terry Lynn ChildsMythopoeic Awards - Fantasy titles (1971 - present, includes children and YA categories)
Crowd sourced list - Best Children's Fantasy Books
Crowd sourced and ranked list - Best Young Adult Fantasy Books
Seraphina –Rachel Hartman